What do you think?
Rate this book
Lucy Green Eyes
"Oh, how I wished I could've told her what had happened. How I wished I could've let go and allowed the tears to spill. But I knew that if I had cried, Mama would've asked me what the matter was. And if I had told her the truth, she would've said that I was lying. And if she thought that I was lying . . . well, you know the rest.
Still, I wonder . . . did she know?
Did anyone know?
Didn't everyone know?"
Lucy Green Eyes is based on the true-life story of Merlene McDaniel as told from her eyes growing up in the segregated South. Although Merlene spends much of her early years dodging the stinging switches of an overly-strict grandmother, yearning for the embrace of a part-time mother, hoping for a smile from an oncoming stranger, or running from dirty old men, her inner strength allows her to ride on the wings of endless hope, and we can't help but ride along.
Still, I wonder . . . did she know?
Did anyone know?
Didn't everyone know?"
Lucy Green Eyes is based on the true-life story of Merlene McDaniel as told from her eyes growing up in the segregated South. Although Merlene spends much of her early years dodging the stinging switches of an overly-strict grandmother, yearning for the embrace of a part-time mother, hoping for a smile from an oncoming stranger, or running from dirty old men, her inner strength allows her to ride on the wings of endless hope, and we can't help but ride along.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2012
91 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 20, 2013
This is an honest first person narrative about the author's mother, Merlene, growing up poor and black in a world where segregation was a way of life. Despite all her troubles, Merlene not only survives, but thrives and I was especially touched by the end of the story.
June 3, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It's a charming, gentle, easy going read most of the time, vaguely reminiscent of something like the Waltons. I find the racism of the Deep South at this time rather horrid, but the author doesn't dwell on this, and only brings it into the book when it directly affects her character or her family, and we all know from history that deeply unpleasant attitudes were the norm then. It's horrible that black people had no voice, no rights, and no recourse to justice way back then. Thank goodness times have changed. I loathe prejudice. I came across it only rarely in my multi cultural upbringing, and always stood out against it, even at the age of 6.
The author touches also on what can only be called rather worrying paedophile attentions to the character. But despite all this she trips lightly through her trials and her triumphs and her youthful adventures.
As the main character grows she does go boy-crazy, and seems to be dating continuously with so many different boys it's hard to keep up. It makes her seem kind of fickle, although there still seems to be a kind of innocence about her. It is also slightly alarming and unbelievable how many boys suggested marriage to her after the shortest of times. My cautious nature shudders. I also struggle with the flirting teachers. I find it shocking that they were allowed to flirt with their pupils, particularly as - even that far back - I feel this wouldn't have been tolerated in British schools.
But, this book is very readable. The account of growing up in the backwoods in the deep south, and the scrapes she got into, kept me turning the pages.
The author touches also on what can only be called rather worrying paedophile attentions to the character. But despite all this she trips lightly through her trials and her triumphs and her youthful adventures.
As the main character grows she does go boy-crazy, and seems to be dating continuously with so many different boys it's hard to keep up. It makes her seem kind of fickle, although there still seems to be a kind of innocence about her. It is also slightly alarming and unbelievable how many boys suggested marriage to her after the shortest of times. My cautious nature shudders. I also struggle with the flirting teachers. I find it shocking that they were allowed to flirt with their pupils, particularly as - even that far back - I feel this wouldn't have been tolerated in British schools.
But, this book is very readable. The account of growing up in the backwoods in the deep south, and the scrapes she got into, kept me turning the pages.
August 10, 2015
In reading “Lucy Green eyes” it takes me back to Sunday dinners we now have with my grandmother. The stories her great grandmother told like the people being thrown off the bridge, and the reference to the nigger baby really hit home for me as I to this day listen to my grandmother tell very similar stories. The book overall was an easy read and once you get into the book it’s a real page turner. I really enjoyed the photos placed throughout the book and it made me felt as if I knew them personally after reading about them, like looking through a family album great touch to have in a book such as this. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone.
DeVita Ovide
AAMBC Reviewer
DeVita Ovide
AAMBC Reviewer
February 27, 2013
I was enraptured the first paragraph, engrossed in Merlene's daily struggles. She paints such a realistic view of life in the backwoods during the dark days of segregation and coming from a poor family.
I highly recommend this, I finished it in a day....had to know how Lil Merlene turned out, and so will anyone else who picks up this little treasure.
I highly recommend this, I finished it in a day....had to know how Lil Merlene turned out, and so will anyone else who picks up this little treasure.
September 23, 2015
Another book full of painful reality. It feels real, it feels like someone who lived and breathes is relating it.
September 21, 2025
"She must’ve felt that being hard on me was the only way to keep me from turning out like my mother."
Told in first person, this is a story of the author's mother, Merlene, and her life during a time of segregation. Most of the story is about her tough childhood and living with her maternal grandmother.
"Segregation was in full force in the South, but since it was all we knew, it was normal."
Merlene discusses her early on sexual abuse, the physical abuse by her grandmother, growing up poor, working and going to school and all the many boys she courted.
"I may have been a skinny little country gal from the woods, but don't mess with me."
I would have liked to know more about Merlene's life as an adult but overall this was a nice read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Told in first person, this is a story of the author's mother, Merlene, and her life during a time of segregation. Most of the story is about her tough childhood and living with her maternal grandmother.
"Segregation was in full force in the South, but since it was all we knew, it was normal."
Merlene discusses her early on sexual abuse, the physical abuse by her grandmother, growing up poor, working and going to school and all the many boys she courted.
"I may have been a skinny little country gal from the woods, but don't mess with me."
I would have liked to know more about Merlene's life as an adult but overall this was a nice read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this direct approach to a a firsthand account of a story. The story was very well written and easy to follow without the deterrents some authors use to build and keep the story going. I also enjoyed how the author didn’t rely on southern vernacular to express pivotal story points and didn’t focus on some of the issues of the South at that time. Will definitely read other books by his author. Very good read!!
July 12, 2024
This book was so good. Everybody has a story , this author put everything out there for an honest look at life of poverty yet being respectful and witty .. sickness, hunger, bare minimum but yet having people in her life to help survive. I just wish she would have explained her divorce or was it one of her 6 children that got a divorce.
June 30, 2017
Great memoir
Things she did and experienced, was like my own upbringing. I picked cotton & tobacco on my Uncle Alonzos farm, church on Sun., fried chicken dinners, walks to school, etc. It was the time period.
Things she did and experienced, was like my own upbringing. I picked cotton & tobacco on my Uncle Alonzos farm, church on Sun., fried chicken dinners, walks to school, etc. It was the time period.
May 15, 2021
Captivating
Captured me from the first page. What a writer! This is such a great story. A true account of life in the segregated 50s but there is no sense of self pity. This is one strong woman.
Captured me from the first page. What a writer! This is such a great story. A true account of life in the segregated 50s but there is no sense of self pity. This is one strong woman.
August 9, 2017
Ends to soon.
Slow in the beginning. It picks up and then ends to soon. Would have enjoyed a longer more intriguing ending.
Slow in the beginning. It picks up and then ends to soon. Would have enjoyed a longer more intriguing ending.
August 10, 2017
Great Book
I felt like I was right there watching everything as I read. I wonder if Paulette Benjamin has written anything else? I would love to find something.
I felt like I was right there watching everything as I read. I wonder if Paulette Benjamin has written anything else? I would love to find something.
March 30, 2018
Excellent Read
This book gave me a new look and perspective to another culture and race. I'm so glad I read it and now understand more of that time frame. A must read!
This book gave me a new look and perspective to another culture and race. I'm so glad I read it and now understand more of that time frame. A must read!
May 4, 2018
This book was just ok. The writing was all over the place. I think it would have been better if it was more orderly. I had a hard time finishing it.
May 23, 2018
Entertaining. I lived in her era, and remember well how life was. It also took me back in time, and let me see life though another's eyes and perspective.
March 17, 2020
A lot of little stories but no one big story. It needs to be more cohesive.
March 31, 2021
Great read...
This book was great, it took me back to my own childhood... 💘 it. Couldn't put it down, until it was finish...
This book was great, it took me back to my own childhood... 💘 it. Couldn't put it down, until it was finish...
May 27, 2021
Great story
The story was good. I wish the end would not have been so rushed or that there could have been a continuation on to her life as an adult.
The story was good. I wish the end would not have been so rushed or that there could have been a continuation on to her life as an adult.
February 10, 2016
Paragraphs, rather than a story...
I chose a three star rating because, while the content was interesting, it was very haphazard. This was a collection of only vaguely related paragraphs, rather than an actual story or even collection of short stories. Many of these vaguely related memory paragraphs left you wondering what ever happened to...?
On the whole, at least the memories and paragraphs were interesting.
I chose a three star rating because, while the content was interesting, it was very haphazard. This was a collection of only vaguely related paragraphs, rather than an actual story or even collection of short stories. Many of these vaguely related memory paragraphs left you wondering what ever happened to...?
On the whole, at least the memories and paragraphs were interesting.
July 23, 2013
I wanted to like this book but I felt it was poorly written and therefore the story suffered. It was difficult to really get to know the characters and to then try to put yourself in their shoes. I was a GoodReads winner of this novel and I am always grateful to try a new author or a new book.
November 9, 2015
Very good read
I loved this book. I felt like I knew each and every character in the book. It reminded me of all the stories my grandparents and parents use to tell us about. Highly recommended!!
I loved this book. I felt like I knew each and every character in the book. It reminded me of all the stories my grandparents and parents use to tell us about. Highly recommended!!
January 19, 2016
Interesting
A story of a young girl in her own words growing into womanhood. You'd have to read it to understand. Small southern country town, believable characters, believable happenings.
A story of a young girl in her own words growing into womanhood. You'd have to read it to understand. Small southern country town, believable characters, believable happenings.
January 28, 2017
Lucy Green Eyes
This was a very interesting book! One that would take you back to the olden days of when grandparents would raise the grandchildren. I just didn't get what happened to the grandmother. A good book to read.
This was a very interesting book! One that would take you back to the olden days of when grandparents would raise the grandchildren. I just didn't get what happened to the grandmother. A good book to read.
September 6, 2013
I only purchase and read this book because it is about a little girl that grew up in South Carolina. But I fell in love with the book.
June 11, 2015
Wanting to know more!
I loved this story, and hopefully find a continuation of the story. It made me think of simpler times, and how much I take for granted. (That's a good thing).
I loved this story, and hopefully find a continuation of the story. It made me think of simpler times, and how much I take for granted. (That's a good thing).
October 8, 2015
There were many things in this book with which I related as a young girl growing up in the South. Enjoyed.
April 18, 2017
I found this story very disjointed. While I can understand Merlene's desire to escape the life she was living, I was saddened by her wish to marry just to achieve that end. Being black, in the South in the 50's was an awful time in our history and the author touched on this very lightly, but powerfully.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews